Circle F Opposes SOPA/PIPA
Definition - What does Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) mean?
The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), or H.R.3261, is a pending bill geared toward preempting U.S. property theft by promoting creativity and innovation. SOPA was introduced to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives in October of 2011.
SOPA expands Protect IP, a similar bill from the Senate, by giving copyright holders and U.S. law enforcement the right to battle infringed - or allegedly infringed - intellectual property (IP) and counterfeit products.
SOPA is also known as the Enforcing and Protecting American Rights Against Sites Intent on Theft and Exploitation Act (E-PARASITE Act).
Techopedia explains Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA)
Copyright infringement is rampant on the Web, and SOPA aims to give copyright holders more power to protect their work. However, critics contend that SOPA and Protect IP could stifle freedom of expression online, and put undue strain on websites, especially social media and other sharing sites, to police their content.
SOPA supporters include:
- Entertainment industry (production and distribution)
- Cable and satellite TV (production & distribution)
- Commercial radio stations and TV
- Health
- Education
- Chambers of commerce
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and police and firefighter unions
SOPA opponents include:
- Online computing services
- Computer software companies
- Communications and electronics
- Computer manufacturers and services
- Education
- Consumer groups
Partial Confirmed list: WikiMedia (all English speaking areas and some international), Google, Reddit, BoinbBoing (blog), Cheezburger (entire network), Mozilla, Tucows, TwitPic, MineCraft, EFF, WordPress, 4Chan, and Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (D-CA).
Not confirmed, but supporting: FB, Amazon.
Not joining, but supporting: Twitter.
Box from americancensorship.org
Main Text from Mozilla
Partial Participation listing compiled by Circle F
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